Big Dreams for Big Green

Both the Naples boys and girls soccer teams are in good positions to make long runs in their respective Section 5 tournaments. Both Big Green squads earned the top seeds after completing strong regular seasons.The girls finished the year with a 15-1-0 record to secure their third-straight Finger Lakes League tit...

Both the Naples boys and girls soccer teams are in good positions to make long runs in their respective Section 5 tournaments. Both Big Green squads earned the top seeds after completing strong regular seasons.

The girls finished the year with a 15-1-0 record to secure their third-straight Finger Lakes League title.

Leading the Big Green’s attack is forward Taylor Chapman. The junior recorded 21 goals and nine assists during the regular season.

“She’s one of those kids you can count on when you need it,” Naples coach Frank Gleichauf said. “We’ve been able to turn to a lot of people to get the big goals, but she keeps going and pumping them in the back of the net. A lot of teams only have that one big gun, but we’ve got the other kids who can get the job done and take the pressure off her.”

Defensively, Naples is led by freshman sweeper Skyler Matthews, junior stopper Loran Fleischman and senior Emily Jackson. Goalie Hayley Derus, who is only in her second year of playing soccer, is stopping 85.9 percent of the shots she faces.

The Big Green have found themselves on the ropes a few times this season, but have battled back. Marcus Whitman took a 3-0 lead against them earlier this month, but Naples stormed back to win 5-3.

“They don’t have a panic button, they get down one, two or three and they keep chugging,” Gleichauf said. “A lot of teams try to get it all back in five minutes.”

The Big Green face either No. 8 Dundee or No. 9 South Seneca in the Class C quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Friday at the Cohocton Sports Complex.

The Naples boys earned the top seed by going 13-2-1. The Big Green were 10-1-1 in league play to earn their first Finger Lakes West League title since 2010.

“I know the boys were pretty pumped to get the No. 1 seed,” first-year coach Ryan Betrus said. “It’s something that the Naples boys have not done for quite a while.”

Midfielder Kyle Johnson has been Naples’ most dangerous player this year with 15 goals and eight assists. Adrian Black (five goals, eight assists) had a slow start due to an injury and illness, but is at the top of his game right now. Alijhiah Minor (nine goals, one assist), who played football for Canandaigua last fall, is a reliable scorer as well.

Defensively, Naples is led by a trio of seniors — Jake Ball, Patrick Hastings and Ben Pulver. Luke Parker is in his third year as the starting goalkeeper and is stopping 98.5 percent of the shots he faces.

Page 2 of 2 - “Luke has been reliable,” Betrus said. “Against Honeoye he made a couple saves that were goals. Standing on the sideline you think, ‘Oh man that one is in.’”

Betrus feels his team can make a long run if it stays healthy and avoids making mental mistakes.

Naples faces either No. 8 Red Creek or No. 9 York in the Class C2 quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Saturday in Cohocton.